The popular regions for travellers are Central, West and South Mongolia. Depending on how long you have, you can split your time across them.
Want a custom tour of Mongolia? We’ll plan your itinerary around the time you have. Talk to us.
Central Mongolia
History, grasslands and classic nomad life
This is the cultural heart of Mongolia, ideal for exploring local culture. It is easy to reach from Ulaanbaatar, and a good starting point before you move west.
Key places: Orkhon Valley, Karakorum, Erdene Zuu Monastery.
The steppe, a ride in Gorkhi-Terelj and milking yaks with a herder family
Things to do
- Visit the ruins of Karakorum, Genghis Khan’s capital.
- Walk inside Erdene Zuu, Mongolia’s oldest monastery.
- Go horseback riding in Gorkhi-Terelj National Park.
- Watch wild horses on the open steppe.
- Stay with nomadic families and learn how gers are built.
- Milk yaks and horses with the locals.
- Ride horses across endless grasslands.
- Visit the Orkhon Waterfall.
- See grazing scenes unchanged for centuries.
Plan your visit. See our Central Mongolia tours or talk to us to book.
West Mongolia
Eagle hunters, trekking, horse riding and mountains
This is the place to experience a nomadic way of life unchanged for centuries. It’s ideal if you want an authentic Mongolian experience away from the tourist crowds, and great for active travel, with trekking and horse riding.
Key places: the eagle hunter villages, the Altai Mountains, Bayan-Ölgii.
Eagle hunters, trekking in the Altai and the winter migration of the herds
Things to do
- Meet Kazakh eagle hunters, and join a real eagle hunt.
- See eagle hunting demonstrations at the Eagle Festival.
- Trek in the Altai Mountains and camp near glaciers and alpine rivers.
- Visit petroglyph sites.
- Experience Kazakh culture.
- Stay in felt gers with mountain views.
- Follow the winter migration of the herds.
- Try winter activities such as sledging.
Plan your visit. See our West Mongolia tours or talk to us to book.
South Mongolia
The Gobi Desert
One of Mongolia’s most famous regions.
Key places: the Gobi Desert, Khongoryn Els, Bayanzag, Yolyn Am.
Camels at Khongoryn Els and the Flaming Cliffs
Things to do
- Climb the massive sand dunes at Khongoryn Els, and hear them “sing” in the wind.
- Ride Bactrian camels.
- Explore the Flaming Cliffs, a dinosaur fossil site.
- Walk through the Yolyn Am ice canyon.
- Spot ibex and vultures.
- Sleep in desert gers under the stars.
- Wide landscapes and big skies.
Plan your visit. See our Gobi Desert tours or talk to us to book.
North Mongolia
Lakes, forests and reindeer people
This is Mongolia’s Siberian side, ideal for nature lovers and slow travel. It’s best in summer; the season is short.
Key places: Lake Khövsgöl, Darkhad Valley, the Mongolian taiga.
Things to do
- Camp by Lake Khövsgöl: clear water and alpine air.
- Kayak or take a boat on one of Asia’s cleanest lakes.
- Go cross-country motorbiking across open land.
- Ride horses along forest trails.
- Visit Tsaatan reindeer herder camps, and stay in remote wooden gers.
- Hike in the taiga near the Russian border.
- Spot yaks, reindeer and wild horses.
- Learn about shamanic traditions.
- Enjoy quiet nights with no light pollution.
Bikers love the north as the start of a cross-country expedition. See our Motorcycle Tour across Mongolia or talk to us.
East Mongolia
Endless steppe and nomadic solitude
This is Mongolia without crowds. Tourism infrastructure isn’t developed here.
Key places: Dornod Province, the eastern Mongolian steppe.
Things to do
- Watch massive horse herds.
- Go days without seeing a road.
- Stargaze every night.
- Go birdwatching in the wetlands.
